Separation of Church and State in Israel has never been achieved, and more than ever before, religious pluralism is under attack.

CONVERSION BILL: Leaders of the Reform Movement have been rigorously lobbying in Israel, to stop proposed legislation to turn all Jewish conversion authority over to the Chief Rabbinate (orthodox) in Israel. This week, Prime Minister Netanyahu opposed the bill and the Kenesset delayed the vote. The Reform Mvmt urges us to email Netanyahu and to acknowledge and push for more of his support. Conversion bill update and link to Netanyahu’s email.

For a reflection on the state of pluralism, read Rabbi David Ellenson’s (president of the Reform Movement’s seminary, Hebrew Union College; Ellenson will speak at RS this fall) Jerusalem Post column, “A Call for State-Sanctioned Tolerance.”

Last week, the Presbyterian Church’s leadership met at their 2010 Assembly. The Church’s Middle East Study Committee report raised serious concerns in the Jewish community. The problem with the report was not its opposition to the occupation of the West Bank; many Jews and Jewish organizations share such opposition. Jewish organizations from both the left and the right assessed the report to be one-sided, holding Israel accountable for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and ignoring Palestinian responsibility. Read the rest of this entry »

RS Blog is the official blog of Congregation Rodeph Shalom of Philadelphia. Rodeph Shalom is the Reform congregation in Center City Philadelphia and has been serving generations of families since 1795.